Swimming aid

ABSTRACT

A swimming aid is provided that includes an expandable element and a securing element for securing the swimming aid to a user. The expandable element moves between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The swimming aid is constructed and arranged such that movement through water in a first direction causes the expandable element to move to the expanded configuration and movement in a second direction, substantially opposite to the first direction, causes the expandable element to move to the collapsed configuration.

This invention relates to a swimming aid. In particular, it relates to ahand held swimming aid.

Swimming aids are typically used to make the task of swimming easier orfaster or both. Thus, known swimming aids include fins that attach tothe feet of a swimmer, enabling them to swim at an increased speed orwith less exertion.

Swimming gloves are also known that fit on a swimmer's hand and includewebs that extend between the fingers. The webs act to increase thesurface area of the hand that can be used for propulsion through thewater. Swimming aids such as this may also be used for aqua aerobicswhere the user acts to resist the advantage that the webbed gloves givethem.

According to the present invention, we provide a swimming aid comprisingan expandable element and a securing element for connecting the swimmingaid to a user, the expandable element being arranged to move between acollapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the aidis constructed and arranged such that movement in a first directioncauses the expandable element to move to the expanded configuration andmovement in a second direction, substantially opposite to the firstdirection, causes the expandable element to move to the collapsedconfiguration.

This is advantageous as in the expanded configuration, the swimming aidprovides an increased resistance to movement in the water which enablesa user to push or pull themselves through the water more efficiently. Inthe collapsed configuration, the aid provides a reduced resistance,enabling a user to easily extend or bend their arm or leg to take afurther stroke. Thus, the swimming aid automatically expands orcontracts depending upon the direction it is moved in the water, whichenables it to be used easily with swimming strokes that involve theextension and retraction of limbs. The increased surface area of theexpanded configuration over the collapsed configuration can be exploitedto swim more easily or faster. The swimming aid can also be used foraqua aerobics or as a safety device as it reduces the exertion requiredto move or stay afloat.

Preferably the securing element is adapted to connect to a user's hand.Preferably the securing element comprises a handle that is arranged tobe gripped by the user. Alternatively, the securing element may comprisea strap that attaches to a user's hand or arm.

Preferably, the collapsed configuration provides reduced resistance tomovement through water in the second direction than the expandedconfiguration provides with movement in the first direction.

Preferably the expandable element is flexible. The flexible surface maybe elastic and biased to the collapsed configuration.

Preferably the expandable element is umbrella shaped.

Preferably the expandable element comprises a plurality of ribs thatextend from a point, the ribs including webs therebetween. Thisconfiguration is advantageous as the resilience of the ribs can be setsuch that the expandable element cannot expand beyond the expandedconfiguration and turn “inside out”.

Preferably the ribs comprise the same material as the expandableelement, the ribs comprising an elongate region of increased thicknessin the material relative to at least part of the expandable memberbetween the ribs.

Preferably the webs include a transition portion located between theribs and adjacent the point, the transition portion comprising a regionof gradually increasing thickness of the expandable element between thewebs and the ribs. The transition portion is important to ensuredurability and an appropriate degree of flexibility of the expandableelement.

Preferably the swimming aid includes a head portion comprising a domedportion receiving the securing element on a concave side, the headportion adapted to be less flexible than the expandable element. This isadvantageous as the head portion is rigid such that it maintains astream lined shape when the expandable element is in the collapsedconfiguration.

Preferably the head portion is defined by the transition portion.

Preferably the ribs are substantially triangular in cross-section. Thisis advantageous as this shape has been found to improve durability.

Preferably, the expandable element includes a reinforced rim around itsperimeter. The reinforced rim is advantageous as it prevents theexpandable element from expanding too far and therefore maintains theexpandable element in the expanded configuration.

There now follows, by way of example only, a detailed description of thepresent invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the swimming aid in the expandedconfiguration;

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the collapsed configuration;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through the embodiment of the swimming aidshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 a shows a first diagram of a user swimming with two swimmingaids;

FIG. 4 b shows a second diagram of the user swimming with two swimmingaids; and

FIG. 4 c shows a third diagram of the user swimming with two swimmingaids.

An embodiment of a swimming aid 1 is shown in FIG. 1 and is adapted tobe held in a user's hand. The user will typically have two swimming aids1, one in each hand. The user can use the increased resistance tomovement through the water provided by the swimming aid 1 to movethemselves quickly and easily through the water.

The swimming aid 1 comprises an expandable element 2 and a securingelement 3 in the form of a handle.

The expandable element 2 comprises a plurality of ribs 4 that extendfrom a head portion 5 to which the handle 3 is also connected. The ribs4 extend radially from the head portion 5 and have webs 6 that extendbetween them. The ribs 4 and the webs 6 are formed of a flexible rubbermaterial. In particular they are formed integrally by a one-shotinjection moulding of a rubber based material. The ribs 4 are formed bya localised increase in thickness of the flexible rubber material. Thethickness and resilience of the ribs 4 is important to ensure that theexpandable element 2 is flexible enough for it to move between expandedand collapsed configurations, but resilient enough to prevent it turninginside out. Further, the webs include a transition portion 12 (bestshown on FIG. 2) located between the ribs 4 adjacent the head portion 5.The transition portion 12 is defined by a gradual increase in thicknessof the expandable element 2 between the webs 6 and the ribs 4. Thetransition portion 12 is important to ensure durability and anappropriate degree of flexibility of the expandable element 2.

The expandable element 2 comprises an outside surface 7 and an insidesurface 8. Further, the expandable element 2 includes a peripheral rim 9that connects the ends of the ribs 4 opposite to the mounting point 5.The peripheral rim 9 may be reinforced to restrict the size of theexpandable element 2. In the present embodiment, the peripheral rim 9 isnot reinforced.

The handle 3 comprises a loop element 10 which can be gripped by auser's hand and a connecting shaft 11 (visible in FIG. 3), whichconnects the loop element 10 to the head portion 5. The loop element isparticularly suitable as the user can grip the swimming aid with astraight wrist which makes swimming easier. Further, as all of theuser's fingers can be accommodated within the loop element 10,controlling the direction of movement through the water of the aid 1 iseasy. The handle 3 may be of other suitable shapes. The securing element3 may additionally comprise a safety strap (not shown) that is adaptedto attach to a user wrist. The safety strap prevents the swimming aid 1being lost should the user's grip on the handle break.

The expanded configuration is shown in FIG. 1, in which the ribs 4 areinclined to an axis that extends through the head portion 5 andtherefore the connecting shaft 11. The expandable element 2substantially takes the shape of an open umbrella. Thus, the ribs 4extend radially outward such that the webs 5 therebetween are taut.

The collapsed configuration is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in which the ribsare substantially parallel to the axis that extends through the headportion 5 and therefore the connecting shaft 11. The webs 6 between theribs 4 are slack and are folded, as the distance between the ribs 4 isreduced in the collapsed configuration.

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b and 4 c show snapshots over time of a user 20 swimming inwater with a swimming aid 1 in each hand. For ease of reference, theswimming aid in the user's left hand will be designated 30 and theswimming aid in the user's right hand will be designated 31.

In FIG. 4 a, the user's left arm 32 is being retracted in the directionof arrow 33, which is a first direction. The swimming aid 30 is in theexpanded configuration as the water acts against the inside surface 8,to open out the expandable element 2. The inside surface 8 provides alarge cross-sectional area in this configuration and therefore providesa large resistance to movement through the water. This enables the user20 to pull their body through the water to advance. The user's right arm34 is being extended in the direction of arrow 35, which is a seconddirection opposite to the first direction. The swimming aid 31 in theirright hand is in the collapsed configuration as the water acts on theoutside surface 7 urging it into the collapsed configuration. In thisconfiguration, the swimming aid 31 is relatively streamline and provideslittle resistance to the user extending their arm 34, in the directionof arrow 35.

In FIG. 4 b, the user has now fully extended their right arm 34 and hasbegun to retract it. Similarly, the user has fully retracted their leftarm 32 and has begun to extend it. Both of the swimming aids 30, 31 arebetween the collapsed and expanded configurations. The swimming aid 30is being moved in the second direction, represented by arrow 36. As theswimming aid 30 is pushed through the water, the water acts on theoutside surface 7 to urge the expandable element 2 into the collapsedconfiguration. The dashed arrows 37 show the expandable element 2 beingurged into the collapsed configuration. The swimming aid 31 is beingmoved in the first direction, represented by arrow 38. Accordingly, thewater acts on the inside surface 8 to open the expandable element 2 intothe expanded configuration. The dashed arrows 39 show the expandableelement being urged into the expanded configuration.

In FIG. 4 c, the user continues to extend their left arm 32 in thesecond direction 36 and retract their right arm 34 in the firstdirection 38. The swimming aid 30 is in the collapsed configuration andprovides little resistance to the user extending their left arm 32. Theswimming aid 31 is in the expanded configuration and provides resistanceto movement through the water. Therefore, the user can use their rightarm 34 to pull themselves through the water using the resistanceprovided by the swimming aid 31.

Once the user 20 has fully extended their left arm 32 and fullyretracted their right arm 34 and then started moving them as shown inFIG. 4 a, the swimming aid 30 moves to an expanded configuration and theswimming aid 31 moves to a collapsed configuration. The user can repeatthe arm movements shown in FIGS. 4 a to 4 c to move through the water.

Therefore, the swimming aid efficiently and easily operates underwaterand moves between expanded and collapsed configurations with themovements of the user's arms 32, 34 in first and second directions. Theexpandable surface 2 opens and collapses quickly to change theresistance of the swimming aid to movement through the water. Thisenables a user to exploit the increased resistance to movement to pulltheir body through the water much faster or easier than when using theirhands alone.

1. A swimming aid comprising an expandable element and a securingelement for securing the swimming aid to a user, the expandable elementbeing arranged to move between a collapsed configuration and an expandedconfiguration, wherein the aid is constructed and arranged such thatmovement through water in a first direction causes the expandableelement to move to the expanded configuration and movement in a seconddirection, substantially opposite to the first direction, causes theexpandable element to move to the collapsed configuration.
 2. A swimmingaid according to claim 1, in which the securing element is adapted toconnect to a user's hand.
 3. A swimming aid according to claim 1, inwhich the securing element comprises a handle that is arranged to begripped by the user.
 4. A swimming aid according to claim 1, in whichthe swimming aid is constructed and arranged such that in the collapsedconfiguration it provides reduced resistance to movement through waterin the second direction than in the expanded configuration with movementin the first direction.
 5. A swimming aid according to claim 1, in whichthe expandable element is umbrella shaped.
 6. A swimming aid accordingto claim 1, in which the expandable element comprises a plurality ofribs that extend from a point, the ribs including webs therebetween. 7.A swimming aid according to claim 6, in which the ribs comprise alocalised increase in thickness of the material of the expandableelement.
 8. A swimming aid according to claim 6, in which the websinclude a transition portion located between the ribs and adjacent thepoint, the transition portion comprising a region of graduallyincreasing thickness of the expandable element between the webs and theribs.
 9. A swimming aid according to claim 1, in which the expandableelement includes a reinforced rim around its perimeter.
 10. A swimmingaid according to claim 6, in which the ribs comprise the same materialas the expandable element, the ribs comprising an elongate region ofincreased thickness in the material relative to at least part of theexpandable member between the ribs.
 11. A swimming aid according toclaim 6, in which the ribs are substantially triangular incross-section.
 12. A swimming aid according to claim 1, in which theswimming aid includes a head portion comprising a domed portionreceiving the securing element on a concave side, the head portionadapted to be less flexible than the expandable element.
 13. A swimmingaid according to claim 12, in which the expandable element comprises aplurality of ribs that extend from a point, the ribs including webstherebetween, the webs including a transition portion located betweenthe ribs and adjacent the point, the transition portion comprising aregion of gradually increasing thickness of the expandable elementbetween the webs and the ribs in which the head portion is defined bythe transition portion.